Fully accredited by AEGIS and the Boarding Schools' Association, we provide the highest quality, local UK guardianship support for students and their parents.
English Country Guardians opened its doors in 2011, and quickly became known for our boutique guardianship care blending tradition, academic success, and the best of British culture. ECG’s team has extensive experience supporting students applying to Oxford and Cambridge, with many of our staff and their children having attended these prestigious universities.
In 2024, English Country Guardians became part of the Academic Families group, which opened up a wealth of resources for their students and parents. With a combined total of over 50 years' experience in helping international families to educate their children in the UK, we offer the highest quality support for both academic and personal success.
The integration of ECG into the Academic Families network marks a significant step forward for both organisations. Together, we are not just expanding geographically but also strengthening our ability to support international students in every aspect of their British education experience – from their first moments of exploring admissions to UK boarding schools to their enrolment in British higher education.
Above all, this acquisition reflects the core values that both organisations share - ensuring that students are safe, happy, and successful. By fostering meaningful relationships between international students and local British host families, we aim to create memorable cultural exchanges and ensure every student has the best possible experience in the UK.
To reflect the shared values of the two organisations, ECG now has a new brand identity and a fresh new website with extended content and functionality including full use of both the old url and the new one: englishcountryguardians.co.uk.
The new design thoughtfully preserves ECG’s signature green, symbolising the English countryside and natural surroundings of the exceptional boarding schools we work with, whilst seamlessly integrating it into the Academic Families’ colour palette. The logo is now anchored in Academic Families’ deep blue, representing reassurance and quality, as well as the parent – both of ECG and the children we look after.
The evolved people motifs take inspiration from the original ECG silhouettes, echoing Academic Families’ visual identity with a modern, welcoming touch that reflects our caring, protective ethos. Throughout the website, subtle hints of golden yellow from the Academic Families palette add warmth, evoking the light of education and friendliness of our brand, reinforcing the sense of support and community at the heart of ECG.
English Country Guardians (ECG) is part of the Academic Families group, which has been operating since 2012 and like ECG, holds both AEGIS Gold Accreditation and BSA Accreditation.
Due to their admissions services, Academic Families is recognised as a quality partner throughout all aspects of a child's schooling from beginning to end. They place international pupils from over 40 countries at schools in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. They also provide guardianship care for students at UK boarding schools and support them throughout their time abroad.
Academic Families are also a member of BSA's Certified Agent Scheme and hold British Council qualifications. In addition, they are an English UK partner agency, which recognises their quality service placing young learners on English language courses in the UK.
Moreover, staff from both companies have excellent first-hand knowledge of the UK education system and are trained by Mental Health First Aiders (MHFA) so they are qualified to support students with any wellbeing or mental health concerns. The two team works closely together to ensure your child’s safety, success and enjoyment throughout their time in Great Britain.
English Country Guardians offers continuing support from your idea of going to boarding school in the UK until the day your child graduates.
We understand international students’ requirements and the strengths of individual English schools. Our extensive experience and personalised service allows us to find the best school to match to each child and to provide all the ongoing guardianship care that international students require.
English Country Guardians can manage all aspects of international student boarding school enrolment. Our team of host families and staff are dedicated to supporting students from around the world as they settle into their British boarding school and enjoy their home away from home in England. We care about their safety, success and wellbeing and treat each child as if they were our own.
“With its overriding commitment to helping overseas students achieve the very best from their education in the UK, English Country Guardians provides an excellent standard of educational guardianship.
Each student is known personally and helped individually at every stage. Students, overseas parents, host families and schools are all equally complimentary of the high levels of professionalism and the fine quality of care and support they receive. ”
AEGIS Inspection Statement
Get in touch and we will contact you to discuss your child's needs and explain how we can help you year-round.
© 2025 English Country Guardians | part of the Academic Families group
